Dutch Young Adults Ratings of Behavior Change Techniques Applied in Mobile Phone Apps to Promote Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Interventions delivered through new device technology, including mobile phone apps, appear to be an effective method to reach young adults. Previous research indicates that self-efficacy and social support for physical activity and self-regulation behavior change techniques (BCT), such as goal setting, feedback, and self-monitoring, are important for promoting physical activity; however, little is known about evaluations by the target population of BCTs applied to physical activity apps and whether these preferences are associated with individual personality characteristics.

Objective: This study aimed to explore young adults' opinions regarding BCTs (including self-regulation techniques) applied in mobile phone physical activity apps, and to examine associations between personality characteristics and ratings of BCTs applied in physical activity apps.

Heterozygous Loss-of-Function Mutations in DLL4 Cause Adams-Oliver Syndrome.

Adams-Oliver syndrome (AOS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by the presence of aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) of the scalp vertex and terminal limb-reduction defects. Cardiovascular anomalies are also frequently observed. Mutations in five genes have been identified as a cause for AOS prior to this report.

Standardized Screening for Mental Health Needs of Detained Youths from Various Ethnic Origins: The Dutch Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2).

In the U.S., the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) has been shown to be a reliable and valid tool to identify youth with mental health needs upon entry in detention facilities.

Etiology and pathogenesis of robin sequence in a large Dutch cohort.

Robin sequence (RS) can be defined as the combination of micrognathia and upper airway obstruction/glossoptosis causing neonatal respiratory problems, with or without a cleft palate and either isolated or non-isolated. Pathogenesis varies widely. We hypothesize that optimal treatment depends on pathogenesis and therefore patients should be stratified according to diagnosis.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of real-world treatment for elderly patients with multiple myeloma using a full disease model.

Objectives: To study the impact of novel treatments for elderly (≥66 yr) patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in daily practice by comparing real-world effects [overall survival (OS) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)] and costs over time. Also, we calculate cost-effectiveness of treatment sequences commonly prescribed to predict effects and costs if patients had received a different treatment sequence.

Methods: Real-world data including patient and disease characteristics, treatment information and resource use were collected from 1054 elderly patients with MM.

Electrocardiographic prediction of lateral involvement in acute non-anterior wall myocardial infarction.

Purpose: Recent research has established that a tall R-wave in V1 indicates lateral wall involvement in non-anterior wall myocardial infarction (MI). The objective of this study was to assess the value of the admission electrocardiogram (ECG) to predict R-waves and consequently lateral wall damage in the late phase of non-anterior MI.

Methods: ECGs of 69 patients were analyzed.

Intelligence: shared genetic basis between Mendelian disorders and a polygenic trait.

Multiple inquiries into the genetic etiology of human traits indicated an overlap between genes underlying monogenic disorders (eg, skeletal growth defects) and those affecting continuous variability of related quantitative traits (eg, height). Extending the idea of a shared genetic basis between a Mendelian disorder and a classic polygenic trait, we performed an association study to examine the effect of 43 genes implicated in autosomal recessive cognitive disorders on intelligence in an unselected Dutch population (N=1316). Using both single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)- and gene-based association testing, we detected an association between intelligence and the genes of interest, with genes ELP2, TMEM135, PRMT10, and RGS7 showing the strongest associations.

The Dutch Parelsnoer Institute--Neurodegenerative diseases; methods, design and baseline results.

Background: The Parelsnoer Institute is a collaboration between 8 Dutch University Medical Centers in which clinical data and biomaterials from patients suffering from chronic diseases (so called "Pearls") are collected according to harmonized protocols. The Pearl Neurodegenerative Diseases focuses on the role of biomarkers in the early diagnosis, differential diagnosis and in monitoring the course of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease. The objective of this paper is to describe the design and methods of the Pearl Neurodegenerative Diseases, as well as baseline descriptive variables, including their biomarker profile.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 and the antiproteinuric response to dietary sodium restriction during renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade.

Background: Residual proteinuria during renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade is a major renal and cardiovascular risk factor in chronic kidney disease. Dietary sodium restriction potentiates the antiproteinuric effect of RAAS blockade, but residual proteinuria remains in many patients. Previous studies linked high fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) levels with volume overload; others linked higher serum phosphate levels with impaired RAAS-blockade efficacy.

Copy number variation in obsessive-compulsive disorder and tourette syndrome: a cross-disorder study.

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS) are heritable neurodevelopmental disorders with a partially shared genetic etiology. This study represents the first genome-wide investigation of large (>500 kb), rare (<1%) copy number variants (CNVs) in OCD and the largest genome-wide CNV analysis in TS to date.

Method: The primary analyses used a cross-disorder design for 2,699 case patients (1,613 ascertained for OCD, 1,086 ascertained for TS) and 1,789 controls.

The ARSQ 2.0 reveals age and personality effects on mind-wandering experiences.

The human brain frequently generates thoughts and feelings detached from environmental demands. Investigating the rich repertoire of these mind-wandering experiences is challenging, as it depends on introspection and mapping its content requires an unknown number of dimensions. We recently developed a retrospective self-report questionnaire-the Amsterdam Resting-State Questionnaire (ARSQ)-which quantifies mind wandering along seven dimensions: "Discontinuity of Mind," "Theory of Mind," "Self," "Planning," "Sleepiness," "Comfort," and "Somatic Awareness.

Recurrence rates of ocular toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

Purpose: To investigate whether recurrence rates of ocular toxoplasmosis are higher during pregnancy in women of childbearing age.

Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of all women seen at a university eye clinic (Utrecht, Netherlands) during episodes of active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis that occurred while the women were of childbearing age (16-42 years).

Neoplasia yield and colonoscopic workload of surveillance regimes for colorectal cancer in colitis patients: a retrospective study comparing the performance of the updated AGA and BSG guidelines.

Background: Due to the increased risk of colorectal cancer, colonoscopic surveillance is recommended for patients with ulcerative and Crohn's colitis. Because surveillance intervals differ considerably between the recently updated American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines, we compared the neoplasia yield and colonoscopic workload of these guidelines.

Methods: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease undergoing surveillance were identified using medical records.

Decision making in AAA repair in 2012: open or endo?

With data from four randomized trials on elective endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and many more additional post-hoc publications, the evidence can be somewhat overwhelming for the surgeon, let alone the patient. This chapter aims to present the most recent and relevant data for decision making in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in a comparative and concise format. After a comparison of the short- and long-term survival data of the randomized trials, the following post-hoc analyses of the four randomized trials will be presented: causes of death, reinterventions, renal function, prediction of complications, and quality of life.

The role of conventional bronchoscopy in the workup of suspicious CT scan screen-detected pulmonary nodules.

Background: Up to 50% of the participants in CT scan lung cancer screening trials have at least one pulmonary nodule. To date, the role of conventional bronchoscopy in the workup of suspicious screen-detected pulmonary nodules is unknown. If a bronchoscopic evaluation could be eliminated, the cost-effectiveness of a screening program could be enhanced and the potential harms of bronchoscopy avoided.

Generalized anxiety disorder and online intelligence: a phenomenological account of why worrying is unhelpful.

Worrying is the central feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Many people worry from time to time, but in GAD the worrying is prolonged and difficult to control. Worrying is a specific way of coping with perceived threats and feared situations.

Acetylcholine receptor pathway and lung cancer.

Genome-wide association studies revealed chromosome regions 15q24-25 were associated with a higher risk for development of lung cancer. The 15q24-25 region encompasses the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes (nAchR alpha3, alpha5, and beta4) that play a role in nicotine addiction. This review reports information of the acetylcholine receptor and lung cancer.

Recurrent acute biliary pancreatitis: the protective role of cholecystectomy and endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Background: Recurrent attacks of acute biliary pancreatitis (RABP) are prevented by (laparoscopic) cholecystectomy. Since the introduction of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP), several series have described a similar reduction of RABP after endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). This report discusses the different treatment options for preventing RABP including conservative treatment, cholecystectomy, ES, and combinations of these options as well as their respective timing.

Positron emission tomography for modeling pathophysiological processes in vivo.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful tool for imaging and quantifying (patho)physiological processes in the human body. PET has been successfully used for staging diseases and evaluating response to treatment. Furthermore, PET may contribute to drug development and individualized treatment planning.

Intra-operative rapid diagnostic method based on CK19 mRNA expression for the detection of lymph node metastases in breast cancer.

Staging by sentinel node (SN) biopsy is the standard procedure for clinically node-negative breast cancer patients. Intra-operative analysis of the SN allows immediate axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection in SN positive patients, but a quick, reliable and reproducible method is lacking. We tested the suitability of a quantitative cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA one step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA#) technique (OSNA-CK19) for intra-operative SN analysis.

Self report on quality of life in dementia with modified COOP/WONCA charts.

This study investigates whether a modified version of the COOP/WONCA charts is suitable to assess quality of life (QOL) in persons with dementia in nursing homes. A group of 112 institutionalized persons with moderate to severe dementia were approached for an interview. Twenty-two were observed not to be communicative, leaving 90.

The blood-brain barrier in cortical multiple sclerosis lesions.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is composed mainly of specialized endothelial cells characterized by the presence of intercellular tight junctions. Additionally, perivascular cells, astrocytes, and surrounding basement membranes determine BBB integrity. BBB disruption is an early phenomenon in the formation of new white matter multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions; however, knowledge of the extent of BBB changes in gray matter MS lesions is lacking.

QUALIDEM: development and evaluation of a dementia specific quality of life instrument--validation.

Objective: To validate the QUALIDEM, a quality of life measure for people with dementia within residential settings rated by professional caregivers.

Method: In a sample of 202 residents of nursing homes Spearman rank correlations were calculated between the QUALIDEM subscales aand indices of convergent validity and discriminant validity, with dementia severity and need of care, with global QOL scores by the head nurse and family, and with self-report on COOP/WONCA Charts.

Results: The one-method multi-trait matrix showed 90.

Myelin flow cytometry assay detects enhanced levels of antibodies to human whole myelin in a subpopulation of multiple sclerosis patients.

Antibodies directed against myelin components have been described in multiple sclerosis (MS). Accumulating evidence suggests that pathogenically relevant anti-myelin antibodies bind conformational and post-translationally modified epitopes. However, the current methods to detect anti-myelin antibodies often do not allow recognition of such epitopes.

Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2005 revisions to the "McDonald Criteria".

New diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis integrating magnetic resonance image assessment with clinical and other paraclinical methods were introduced in 2001. The "McDonald Criteria" have been extensively assessed and used since 2001. New evidence and consensus now strengthen the role of these criteria in the multiple sclerosis diagnostic workup to demonstrate dissemination of lesions in time, to clarify the use of spinal cord lesions, and to simplify diagnosis of primary progressive disease.